Ritter Museum: a chocolate and art museum in Germany
I didn’t get to as early of a start as I would have liked to on my second day in Stuttgart, as my early train ride yesterday kept me fatigued. Nevertheless, I had a quick bite to eat in the late morning at Café Bohème and ran into the S-Bahn to begin my journey to the Museum Ritter. This time, I took the S-Bahn south once more to Leingelfelden and then took a bus even further to the small town of Waldenbuch. From there, the museum was a 9-minute walk.
About the Museum
The Ritter Museum is a modern art and chocolate museum located in Waldenbuch, Germany. It was founded in 1967 by chocolate industrialist Marli Hoppe-Ritter and her husband Alfred. The Ritter family had been collecting art since the early 20th century.
The museum’s collection focuses on modern and contemporary art. It includes paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, and new media art from the 19th century to today. Major artists represented include Max Beckmann, Otto Dix, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Oskar Kokoschka, Wilhelm Lehmbruck, and Markus Lüpertz. There are also works by Pablo Picasso, Jean Dubuffet, Lucio Fontana, and Cy Twombly.
Other highlights are the museum’s significant holdings of Swabian expressionism, Bauhaus works, abstract art, and Arte Povera.
The art collection of the Ritter Museum is located on the left half of the museum only. There is actually a chocolate museum on the right half of the building, paying homage to the Ritter family business. When you pay for admission, you’re given a sticker. If you can read the world on the sticker, you get a piece of the delicious Ritter chocolate! Wunderbar
Similar to the Froehlichs, the Ritters also decided to house their collection near their place of work.
Museum Ritter Entrance
The Ritter Museum building is absolutely stunning! It was designed by Berlin-based Max Dudler. The minimalist style architecture was a lovely contrast to the natural foliage surrounding the land.
Exhibition
At the time of my visit, the exhibition Lunapark 2000 was on view. Comprised of neon sculptures on the lower floor, and various mirrored works on the second floor, the exhibition brought together many non-figurative contemporary artists interested in minimal aesthetics.
Homage to Adolf Luther, 1965
ZERO-Raum, Spiegelwand mit vorgehängtem Mobile, 1963/2006
(Mirror Wall with Mobile Suspended in Front)
Gotthard-Granit, 1985
Backyard
The Ritter Museum is known for its collection of modern German and international art housed in a historic castle setting in Baden-Württemberg. It is a leading regional art museum founded by the Ritter family of chocolate makers.
Museum Ritter
Alfred-Ritter-Straße 27
71111 Waldenbuch, Germany
Tuesday-Sunday 11-6pm / Thursday 11-8pm
